The City of York Council approved the £2m plan of English Heritage to build a shop and information center under the hill of Clifford's Tower. However, there has been an outcry among the public that it should stop because it defaces the ruins.
The construction was planned by London-based architects Hugh Broughton whose work are seen to revamp the interior of the tower, an area that most people agree has been a disappointment to visitors, and create a covered spiral walkway that will reveal parts unseen, according to The Guardian.
A gift shop and an information center will be built on the mound too, which sparked outrage among the locals. About 3,780 signatures were taken to have a stand against the proposed construction.
City councilor John Hayes told the same site, "In every way this proposal is wrong." He said, "When I heard it, I thought it was a bad joke."
Hayes also told BBC News that he filed an application for going against the project as a citizen, not a councilor. "I made the application as a local resident. I am not the ward councilor for the Guildhall Ward where Clifford's Tower stands."
"However, I live nearby and I, along with many other people in York, want to retain the mound in its simple medieval form that makes it such an iconic landmark."
The York Castle was built by William the Conqueror during the 11th century and was burned down in 1190. Clifford's Tower is what remained after centuries of a harsh beating from time.
According to English Heritage, "The 11th-century timber tower on top of the earth mound was burned down in 1190, after York's Jewish community, some 150 strong, was besieged here by a mob and committed mass suicide. The present 13th-century stone tower was probably used as a treasury and later as a prison."
Currently, the outcry was brought to the High Court, and every party is awaiting the decision.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
